Animal bites in Cebu up by 20% in 2017

CEBU, Philippines — The Animal Bite Center in Cebu reported a significant increase in animal-related injuries last year compared to cases tallied in 2016.

ABC records showed that cases increased by nearly 20 percent or 4,890 in 2017, quite higher than 2016’s 24,701 cases.

Of the numbers, dog bites and scratches account for most of the cases.

Minglanilla town had the most number of cases with 2,346, followed by Danao City (1,914), Pinamungajan town (1,725), Balamban town (1,679), and Carcar City (1,572).

Cordova town, on the other hand, had the least cases with only two.

It was followed by the town of Pilar with nine cases, Lapu-Lapu City with 15 cases, Consolacion with 37 cases, and Mandaue City with 37 cases.

Of the 29,591 cases in 2017, 10 were found positive for rabies. All victims survived after completing their dosage of anti-rabies vaccines.

On the other hand, five people died of rabies in 2016.

Last year, ABC provincial office reported 99.76 completion rate for the post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which refers to anti-rabies treatment administered after an exposure (such as bite, scratch, lick, etc.) to potentially rabid animals.

PEP treatment is composed of three doses. Each dose is administered to a patient in a three-day interval.

ABC nurse Mabel Amarga said patients need to finish the treatment otherwise they will not be cured.

Although the treatment completion rate was high, ABC aims to get a full 100 percent rate this year and in the succeeding years.

In 2016, the PEP’s completion reached 99.71 percent, a bit lower than last year.

Meanwhile, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Mary Rose Vincoy said the provincial government is strengthening its efforts in line with the Rabies Awareness Month celebration this month.

“Ang mga cases run so far naa sa highly urbanized cities. Basically, ang positive cases sa dogs kay naa sa metropolitan areas,” she said.

She said this prompted the Capitol to intensify anti-rabies campaign in the cities, as well as in the first to second class municipalities.

In the past two years, the local government units with positive cases of rabies were Barili, San Remegio, Sta Fe, Pilar, Talisay City, Toledo City, Danao City, Daanbantayan, Medellin, Carmen, Moalboal, Badian, Sta. Fe, and Consolacion. —KBQ (FREEMAN)